In a room that can hold hundreds of people, Tuesday's open forumwith the presidential search committee drew a crowd of about 50people.
About a dozen of those present shared the traits they would liketo see in the next president -- from someone who will support a newstudent center to "a clone of Brownell."
Frank Bracken, a Ball State trustee and the president of thesearch committee, opened the forum with an explanation of theproceedings. Those in attendance were encouraged to comment, butthey were asked to hold their remarks to five minutes or less.
"We are here as a committee to hear comments, suggestions,anything anyone wants to say," Bracken said. "We are not here toengage in a conversation back and forth between the committee andthe people asking questions."
Brownell, whose name surfaced frequently during the forum,resigned on Oct. 21. Board of Trustees president Tom DeWeeseannounced a search committee on Nov. 14. The 13 members of thiscommittee, who will find and suggest a replacement for Brownell,sat as a panel at the front of the room.
Many of the people who spoke to the panel represented largerconstituencies.
Student Government Association President Jayson Manship spoke onbehalf of the student body. He encouraged the committee to nominatea president who will "support shared government" and a new studentcenter.
"I feel a president who would help us support a new studentcenter is what students are looking for," Manship said.
Manship was the only student to offer a suggestion.
"I was disappointed with the lack of student turnout," juniorLaura Schenkel said. "It's something that will affect the entireuniversity, and not many of us were here."
Bracken, though, said he thought the forum accomplished itspurpose.
"I wasn't really looking for anything," Bracken said. "We justwanted to listen to comments, and we did just that. The commentswere very well-stated and productive."
The other speakers were current and retired faculty andcommunity members. Their comments ran the gamut, from "offer BlaineBrownell a raise" to requesting that the new president focus onhiring and promoting minority staff. One comment dealt withinternational affairs.
"I'm speaking on behalf of those of us who believe theinternational aspect is important to this university," RonaldRarick, associate professor in the department of art, said, "and Idon't believe that it's a small constituency. Our needs have gonebeyond national to international needs, and to reduce aninternational focus is to render students crippled."
The forum ended more than an hour before scheduled, and Brackenconcluded by saying that the committee will find "one of the bestpresidents in this country" for the university.
The search committee had its first meeting two hours before theforum. Bracken said the committee had "a very interesting twohours" and that the meeting "went very well," but he would notcomment on what the committee discussed.
Because of the Christmas season, the committee has not scheduledits next meeting.
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